Time saving trolley base



Feb. 5, 1935.

H. A. LEONHAUSER 1,990,435

TIME SAVING TROLLEY BASE Filed Sept. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rfv-WV wW? Y 447V A.

ATTORNEY Feb 5, 1935. A. LEONHAUSER TIME SAVING TROLLEY BASE Filed Sept.19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /e/fy f4. O7a user' BY ATTORNEYPatented Feb. 5, 1935v` UNlTED star-13s TIME SAVING TROLLEY BASE -HenryA. Leonhauser, Baltimore, VApplication September 19, 1931, Serial No.563,880

,3 Claims.

The invention relates to trolley 'bases of the detachable pole type andhas forits general object the provision of a novel arrangement orstructure whereby the wor-kof removing ,and replacing a damaged polewill be facilitated and expedited.

It is well known that in .service a trolley pole frequently becomes bentor otherwise damaged from some cause or other, necessitating itsreplacement by a new one. Ordinarily it ,is neces'- sary to send to theshopfor a new pole and .the Work of making the change consumes.considerable time as it is necessary to remove several bolts and thenplace them .back in proper position when the replacement pole Sisapplied. .Naturally this is extremely objectionable as it ties .up.traffic and causes Ainconvenience and .annoyance -to the public. l

It is with the above .facts in view that I 'have devised the presentinvention whichcontemplates a trolley construction in which the poleissimply .clamped in place by lmeans which .may be released andsubsequently reclamped 'without the necessityV for ,employing any toolswhatsoever so that the work of effecting replacement of .adamaged polemay begreatly expedited, the intention being that the Icar be .equipped.Witha Yspare pole ready for any emergency which may arise, the sparepole .being carried for instance on `the .runningboard as disclosed .inmy companion application for patent lfor spare .trolley pole carrier ledof even .date herewith.

An important `object of the invention is .to provide a construction `ofthis character .embodying a novel clamp for positively securing,therdetache able pole jin. place, the clamp :embodying tti-ecombinationof a stationary saddle, a hinged clamping member .and .bolt meanseiecting'connection, 4it being'morecver .a feature that the clamping.device is located within and `alouttingly engages the end of .a cutNaway.portion inthe tubular base portion within'w'hich the detachablepole is `inserted and held, the purpose 'being to 'brace'the structureandv .to avoid bringing bending strain upon the pole.

Another object is toprovide a construction of this ,character which" inone form thereof em- .bodies a pivoted bolt for'electingthe clampingaction, .the bolt carrying a nut'formed with'an elongated handle servingthe purpose of a wrench and the .clamp itself having means thereoncooperating with the ynut to prevent swinging .of the bolt into releasedposition even though the nut might from .some unaccountable cause.become somewhat loosened.

inafter more fully described vand claimed, and il-v 1Q lustrated 4in the.accompanying drawings: in which:

Figure 1 Vis a fragmentary plan View .of a trolley poile structureembodying my invention,

.Figure 2 isa .side elevation, .Figure 3 is a side elevation showing theclamping member and ythe spring pressed yoke ,removed, y

.Figure 4 is a detail .cross section taken on the line 4 4 of 1'i,g,fure."l,`

'Figure 5 is a cross .section taken on the line 15-5 .Of Figure 1,

' ,'gure .6 is a view similar to'Figure 5 uillustratinga modification,Figure 7 is aside elevation thereof, and

Figure 8 is a top plan view.

-'Referring more particularly. to thegdrawings the numeral 10designatesatubular sleeve or socket which ispivoted ,as customary to thetrolley base, not shown in its entirety as it forms nov part of thepresent invention which has to do only with novel 'clamp means forvsecuring the detachable trolley pole. Slidable upon this sleeve is acollar 11 carrying the ordinary yoke 12y and a superposed `angle bar.1,3, The-yoke has the usual prongs or -'horns 14 to vvhichlare connectedthe springs 1 5 whichjlead to and .connect with the trolley base for thepurposeof .urging the trolley pole upwardly and maintaining the contactwheel thereof in proper engagement with thev trolley Wire. The forwardor outer end ,of the sleeve 10 is `partially cut away clearlyyillustrated in 'FigureV 3, the cut away portion jbeing indicated at 164and .defining a transverse ,shoulder 17 ,as Well .as longitudinallyextending' Shoulders ;18,1the latter being diametrically opposite.Thesleeve receives -and supports the detachable trolley pole as will beexplained.

Secured, for instance as by welding., upon this .Outer .end of the,sleevelO is av bracket structurehere represented Aas comprising asaddle 19 carryingan anglebar `2.0"which is .secured thereto .and whichhas an '.upstanding or vertical ange .through which passes, in slidablerelation thereto. a.v bolt ,2.1 having', .its y.threaded end passing theangle bar 13 and equipped with a pair of nuts 22 and 23 at oppositesides thereof so that the bolt will be immovable with respect to thecollar 11 but slidable with respect to the saddle 19 and angle bar 20,this movability being desirable to permit adjustment of the tension ofthe springs 15 by adjusting the nuts 22 and 23.

The bracket comprised by the angle bar 20 and saddle 19 is intended tobe part of or to support a clamp and I have therefore provided astationary plate or leaf 24 secured upon the horizontal flange of theangle bar 20 and having a'downturned end 25 terminating in knuckles 26'between which is pivoted at 27 a knuckle formed ,on one end of a curvedclamping plate 28 terminating in a lateral extension 29 formed withahole 30 adapted for the passage of a bolt 31 which extends throughsimilar holes in the horizontal flange of vthe angle bar 20 and throughtheplate24 and which is equipped withl a nut 32 having ani elongatedhandle 33 of a wrench-like character.' The bolt is preferably prevented`from turning by engagement of its head within'a U-'shaped retainer 31@on the underside of the extension lug 29.

The numeral 34 designates the detachable trolley pole which is naturallyprovided with the usual or any preferred harp and trolley wheel, both ofwhich are not shown, and which is telescopically engaged through thesleeve 10 and which fits in the base in the usual manner'.` 'The pointis that this pole is located within the confines of the pivoted clampingmember 28 and is clampingly engaged thereby when the nut 32 is turneddown tightly by means of the handle 33. Clearly the clamping action' ofthe member L28 acting against the pole will hold it rmly againstdisplacement inany direction. ,N-

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a slight modication in which theabovedescribed bolt 31 is replaced by a bolt 34a pivoted at 35 betweenears 36 on a movable clamping member 37 corre-'- sponding to the member28 and mounted in identically the same manner. In this. instance theangle bar 38 and plate 39, corresponding respectively to the angle bar20 and plate 24, are formed with slots 40 for the passage of the bolt34a, the plate 39 being, moreover, provided at its end at opposite sidesof the slot with upturned lips 4l coacting with the nut 42,corresponding to the nut 32 for preventing the bolt 34a'from slippingout of the slot 40 in the event that the nut 42 should become more orless loosened from some cause or other. f

In the use of the device, it is of course to be understood that thetrolley pole 34 is held rigidly by the clamping member 28 or 37 as thecase may be so that the trolley will be just as strong as any other. Inthe event that the pole becomes bent, broken or otherwise damaged, it isa simple matter for one of the car crew to grasp the elongated handle ofthe nut 32 or 42 and loosen it or remove it if necessary so that thedamaged pole 34 maybe withdrawn from the sleeve 10 and a new oneinsertedafter which the nut is tightened to clamp the new pole in place.If desired upon removal of the nut 32 therbolt 31 may be taken outentirely so that the clamping member 28 may be swung down innonobstructing relation to the pole and, similarly,rin 'the modied formof the invention, upon loosening the nut 42 to a certain predeterminedextent so as'to clear the lips 41 the bolt may be swung down as shown bydot and dash lines in V Figure 6 so that the clamping member 37 will be"en# through a suitable hole in the vertical flange of tirely freed fromengagement with the pole. Naturally when the clamping members are thusentirely disengaged the Work of removing a damaged pole and inserting anew one is still further simplified. It should be noted that the lowerclamping member 28 or 37 is located at the cut away portion 16 of thesleeve 10 as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 7, the circumferentialshoulder 17 coming against the edge ,of the lmovable clamping'rnemberand one of the longitudinal shoulders 16 coming opposite the top of thelug or extension 29 or the ears 36, as the case may be. The cutting awayofthe forward or outer end of the sleeve 10 in this manner makes itpossible for the movable clamping member 28 or 37 to react directlyagainst the pole 34- and the uncut or projecting portion of the sleevewithout bringing any bending* strains upon the pole itself.

In the use of the deviceit should be clear that there is but theone nutto be loosened, or removed if preferred, when itis desired-to replace adamaged pole.V Moreover, as the nut is provided With the` long handlewhich fulfills the purpose of a Wrench, thereisy no necessity for usingany tools. Obviously the work of eifecting repairs will require muchless time than with trolley poles of the ordinary construction andtraffic will not be interrupted, Wtliresultant inconvenienceandannoyance :tolv the public, for more thana few moments. i' e' 'From'theforegoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparentthat I have thus provided a very simply andinexpensively constructedtrolley base wherein the pole itself may be quickly and easily detachedwhen necessary and that, moreover, without tools.'` The obviousadvantages of the arrangement should recommend it, especially as allofthe parts areof rugged construction and Well capablev of withstandingprolonged wear.k It is thought from the above that the beneficialaspects of the'various features kshould be understood and appreciated byone skilled in the art without further explanation. y

While I have shown and described the preferred `embodiments oftheinvention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely-anexemplication ofthe principles involved as the right is reserved to makeall such changes in the details of construction will widen the eld ofutility and increase the adaptability of the device provided suchchanges constitute noV departure from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1.'In a trolley pole structure, a sleeve forming part of a trolleybase,'a collar mounted on said sleeve and carrying an angle bar and ayoke, said yoke being adapted for connection of springs therewith, saidsleeve having a partially cut-away en'd portion, a trolley poletelescopicallyengaged within the sleeve; and. means for securingthe polecomprising'a yoke mounted upon the sleeve at the uncut-away portion ofthe end'thereof, 4an ,angle bracketxrigid upon said second namedyokebolt means., connecting said anglev bai' and said angle`bracket,aclamp formedas an angular leaf overlyingfan'd "secured uponthehorizontal i sleeve for clampingly engaging fthe trolley pole,

a bolt carried by the free end of said curved member, said angle bracketand said leaf superposed thereon being formed with openings for thereception of said bolt, and a nut screwed onto said bolt and engageablewith the top of said leaf and having an elongated integral handle.

2. In a trolley pole structure, a sleeve forming part of a trolley baseand having one end partially cut away, a collar mounted upon the sleeveand carrying an angle bar and a yoke, said yoke being adapted forconnection of springs therewith, a trolley pole telescopically engagedwithin the sleeve, an angle bracket secured upon the end of the sleeveat the uncut-away portion thereof, a bolt connection between said anglebar and said angle bracket, and means for clampingV the trolley polecomprising a leaf superposed and secured upon the horizontal portion ofsaid angle bracket and having a depending end, a curved member pivotedat one end to said depending end and entering said cut-away portion ofthe sleeve for clamping the pole, said angle bracket and the leafsuperposed thereon being formed with registering slots opening out atthe end, a bolt pivoted upon the free end of said curved member andreceived within said registering slots, and a nut screwed onto said boltand reacting against the top of said leaf for forcing said curved memberinto engagement with the pole, said nut having an elongated integralhandle.

3. In a trolley pole structure, a sleeve forming part of a trolley baseand having one end partially cut-away, a. collar mounted upon the sleeveand carrying an angle bar and a yoke, said yoke being adapted forconnection of springs therewith, a trolley pole telescopically engagedwithin the sleeve, an angle bracket secured upon the end of the sleeveat the uncut-away portion thereof, a bolt connection between said anglebar and said angle bracket, and means for clamping the trolley polecomprising a leaf superposed and secured upon the horizontal portion ofsaid angle bracket and having a depending end, a curved member pivotedat one end to said depending end and entering said cut-away portion ofthe sleeve for clamping the pole, said angle bracket and the leafsuperposed thereon being formed with registering slots opening out atthe end, a bolt pivoted upon the free end of said curved member andreceived within said registering slots, a nut screwed onto said bolt andreacting against the top of said leaf for forcing said curved memberinto engagement with the pole, said nut having an elongated integralhandle, and the slotted end of the leaf being formed with upstandinglugs engaging against the side of said nut.

HENRY A. LEONHAUSER.

